Hi all,

I just bought a new 2009 Clubman S Hot chocolate for my wife with the works. The car looks great but the one function that my wife really wanted doesnt work anymore. We had the Ipod/iphone OEM comfort unit installed with the Y connector. When we first got the mini it worked for about a day. Then it just stopped working properly. Sometimes it picks up the ipod or iphone and works for about 2 minutes and then stops, and sometimes it wont pick it up at all. It wont pick up the playlist or artists either anymore. It completely weird because of the fact that it arbitrarily works and then doesnt.
Is anyone else experiencing this problem. Ive tried resetting the iphone, ipod and tried using 2 different ipods and 2 different iphones and the results are the same. To make it worse, the mini dealer really doesnt understand the problem and says its the first time they have heard of this issue (which im sure its not).
Thanks for any advice.


Cheers

Andrew

 

Sounds like a bad cable.

 

My car started doing the same thing after it was soaked when the windows lowered during a storm. It is strange because sometimes it works just fine. Other times the system doesn't even know that my IPOD is there. I plan on talking with the dealer this week. The car is a new '09 MCS. It has about 800 miles on the clock.

 

I have the same issue on an 09 car...

I think there is a bigger issue here, from forums here and there I am finding more and more issues with 09 iPod / iPhone integration.

If you speak to BMW they say it is not possible / a problem.... I am currently digging in my heels (not that I am really wearing heels, but you get my point).

 

My '09 MCSa with iPod integration using the Y cable works perfect. No issues with it yet in 2.5 months and 2000 miles. I use a first generation iPhone as my iPod.

 

Well that is good news. BMW have agreed to give me a Y cable until they replace the missing cradle.

 

Keep in mind, if you are using the Y cable to hook up your iPhone to the radio via the USB port, the Y cable was not designed to work with the iPhone. Apple changed the pin outs on the iPhone for reasons known only to them. Your dealer should have told you this, the MINI site says that the cable is not compatible with the iPhone.

Having said that, the iPhone WILL work with the cable MOST of the time for listening to and control of the iPhone but NEVER to charge it. However, I have noticed that using the iPhone with the Y cable causes flaky response from the MINI stereo, even after switching back to using a standard iPod with the Y cable. As a matter of fact, using ANY other USB cable with the MINI other than the Y cable seems to screw it up, even the standard Apple cable. Once the system starts acting funny with the iPhone (or a non-standard cable), it needs to reset itself before it returns to normal (don't ask me how it resets, disconnecting the Y cable from the MINI while she rests overnight has worked for me in the past)

This is what I suggest you try, disconnect the Y cable, run the car radio for a bit, shut it down and let it sit overnight. Next day, start the car, turn on the radio, hook up the Y cable, hook a STANDARD iPod (not the iPhone) to the Y cable, and see how it works. If it does work, stick to using the iPod for a while. If the weirdness ceases, hook up the iPhone and see if the weirdness returns. If it does, you have your answer, proof that the Y cable was not designed for the iPhone and evidence of what happens when you hook up your iPhone.

If you find what I say is true (it is for me) then you will have to live with it. Nothing broken, just not designed to work the way you want (with the iPhone). If it is still flaky with just the iPod, I would press your SA to fix it, the least they can do is try to swap out the Y cable.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

 

The Y cable charges my 1st generation iPhone just fine. I think the problem is with the 2nd generation iPhone as it's pinout is different from 1st generation.

 

I suggest people search and read the threads here in the NAV and Audio section there is a lot of conversation here about this exact problem and it is true there is a problem.

The problem is with the iPhone 3G and the newer Nano's. It is true that Apple change the way they charge. I have posted the exact reason in at least tow other threads, so look it up. Search is you best friend to get this cleared up. I.E. there is another thread that states there has been a change in the cable so that it should work. Check it our in another thread and find the part number and see if yours matches it or not. If not try to get the dealer to replace it for you. If you car is an 08 then they probably will not exchange as they never stated an iPhone would work with their system if it is an 09 then they really shoudl exchange it for you as the Apple change came before the 09's started shipping.

 

The dealership had to replace the entire unit, not just the Y cable. hopefully your warranty will cover this. Iphone integration works just fine now.

 

My iPhone 3G seemed fine with the Y cable, although I only tried it for a few days. Now I've lost the Y cable. MINI says they cost ... $68. Ouch. Anybody know of a wholesale source for the Y cable?

 

If you mean the USB/AUX to iPod or iPhone Y cable, it is a MINI part. So, the usual OEM parts sources would be the only way to get it. Since many dealers charge $100, $68 sounds like a good price. It includes a black box. It isn't just a cable.